Luminescent materials of zinc magnesium germanate activated with manganese



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. A. HUMMEL ETAL ACTIVATED WITH MANGANESE s1 aggwuv 1004 ssyNiHalas' NO/i/ibCL/JXJ Ava Jam/1w LUMINESCENT MATERIALS OF ZINC MAGNESIUM GERMANATE QQIRQU OtlIIO L l e s "$6 fi z m. mm Q EQEQQQES S m 23mg 2528 EE ig/Sum mu mmmEtQmm T 96 3 33. O m mg q T as n H & A. V d m m m L M M F W n W w W w a: 1. M n m. g H rare H raL m y M J m m m M 5 I. W aw i m w W Q8 a July 29, 1969 Filed Jan. 25. 1967 QQ NH.

James F. Server Eric: 12. lreidter- Their" Arktorneg United States Patent 3,458,452 LUMINESCENT MATERIALS NESIUM GERMANATE ACTIVATED MANGANESE Floyd A. Hummel, State College, Pa., and James F. Sarver, Cleveland, and Eric R. Kreidler, Woodmere, Ohio, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 611,603 Int. Cl. C091: 1/54 US. 'Cl. 252301.6

OF ZINC MAG- WITH 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Luminescent materials of zinc magnesium germanate in which from 10 to 38 mole percent magnesium can be substituted for zinc and up to 75 mole percent SiO can be substituted for 6e0 and in which activator proportions of manganese are substituted for zinc are found to be eflicient and very bright in response to ultraviolet radiation of 2537 angstrom unit (A.) wavelength and cathode rays, and they are useful in lamps and cathode-ray tube applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to solid solution luminescent materials useful as phosphors and having the willemite-type or phenacite-type structure. More particularly, it relates to such materials based on zinc magnesium orthogermanate activated with manganese, (Zn,Mg) GeO :Mrr.'

3,458,452 Patented July 29, 1969 ice the abilities of a specific crystal matrix in combination with certain activators to produce light, and particularly to produce light of desired colors and high brightnesses and efliciencies are not generally predictable but must 5 be studied empirically. Of the infinite possible permutations of matrix compositions and activators only certain types will luminesce, and a much smaller number will be suitable for production of light in useful devices. Empirical studies and invention are often necessary to discover such suitable phosphors and to determine desired compositions and proportions.

SUMMARY wherein: a is in the range of about 0.95l.0, x is in activator proportions and preferably is in the range of about 0.005-004, y is in the range of about 0.10-0.38, and z is in the range of about 0-0.75. This means that activator proportions of Mn are substituted in the solid solution lattice for Zn, and Si can be substituted in amounts up to O 75 mole percent for Ge and still retain the basic char- This notation indicates a crystalline phosphor of zinc magnesium germanate with the material considered to be the activator given after the colon. The manganese acts as an activator in zinc germanate and actually provides the centers at which light is produced in the crystal matrix. Similar notations are used in the same way with other phosphors.

Phosphors based on beryllium orthogermanate reacted with zirconium, titanium and thorium and activated by manganese are known to be cathodoluminescent. Also, materials based on germanium dioxide and activated with a material selected from the group consisting of man acteristics of the invention. Mg can be substituted for Zn in amounts up to 38 mole percent without causing the .appearance of a second phase (a zinc magnesium orthogermanate solid solution having the olivine-type structure), the avoidance of which is necessary for the advan- "tages of the invention. Beyond 38- mole percent magnesium, the hexagonal willemite solid solution matrix is diluted by the orthorhombic olivine-type structure, similar to the natural mineral (Mg,Fe) SiO which does not produce the luminescent characteristics of the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention include a phosphor having the formula with the same values for a, x and y but with no Si substiganese chloride, zinc chloride, cadmium chloride, antimony chloride, phosphorus pentoxide and the combination of phosphorus pentoxide and manganese chloride in certain proportions are known to be capable of producing light. Furthermore, Zn SiO :Mn is a well known cathodoluniinescent material, and samples of it certified as standards are supplied by the United States National Bureau of Standards for use in measuring light output of cathodoluminescent phosphors. However, it is a constant goal in the phosphor industry to produce materials of improved efiiciency and greater light output and which can be produced in different desirable colors dependent on composition.

Orthogermanates including are known; however, they do not have all of the luminescence characteristics desired for some applications.

Related publications include Solid Solubility and Eutectic Temperature in the System Zn SiO -Mg SiO by J. F. Sarver and F. A. Hummel, 45 J. Amer. Ceramic $00., No. 6, p. 304 (June 1962); and Subsolidus Equilibria and Luminescence Data on Phases in the System MgO-GeO SiO -TiO by I. F. Sarver and F. A. Hummel, 110 J. Electrochem. Soc., No. 7, pp. 726-732 (July 1963).

Despite the fact that related compounds are known,

-tution for-Ge. Optimum phosphors for excitation by 2537 A. and cathode rays have approximately the composition os4 a15)2 4 om BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of the brightnesses in response to cathode-ray and 2537 A. excitation of :M )2 4 0.01 phosphors showing improvements over prior art Zn GeO lMr1 phosphors.

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of brightness and color or peak wavelength of light produced by phosphors of the invention containing varying proportions of manganese activator in response to excitation by the 2537 A. and 3650 A. line spectra of low pressure and high pressure mercury arcs, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a similar graphic representation of brightness and peak wavelength of a phosphor of the invention with varying contents of manganese activator in response to cathode-ray excitation.

In both FIGS. 2 and 3, the phosphor base in which themanganese is varied can be described as approximately o.'195-x 0.20) a a ax 3 "4 with the manganese content varied from about one mole. As can beseen from the tables below, the compositions percent to ten mole precent (x=0.01 to 0.1). were made slightly deficient in ZnO in order to guarantee absence of free ZnO in the finished products.

The ingredients were mixed by hand under acetone and then fired for 20 hours at 900 C. in a silicon carbide DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Applicants have discovered that certain Phosphors 5 resistance furnace to drive off volatiles and initiate reing the willemite structure and which are solid solutions ti Th Samples were th ground again nder acetone of zinc Orthogcrmanate and magnesium orthogcrmanatc. in an automatic agate mortar and pestle and fired at 1100 activated with manganese, make quite eiheieht and y C. for an additional 20 hours. After a second grinding, bright phosphors which Producclightpcaking atdcsirabls the samples were fired a third time at 1175-1200" c., wavelengths. Such phosphors optionally also contain zinc followed b 30 i of i di i an automatic mororthosilicate and magnesium orthosilicate in solid solutar d pestle All of h firi was d i i i tion, activated with manganese. Rather than presenting covered l i ibl merely a proportional decrease or increase in brightness X-ray diifraction analysis indicated that the samples as magnesium germahate is added to the basic Zine were completely reacted to form willemite solid solugermaflate matrix, unexpected increases in brightness were tions. Spectral distribution curves and brightnesses were found n e solid solution region having basically the obtained for each sample under excitation by 2537 A. willemite structure This includes D to 33 mole Percent Y ultraviolet light and cathode-ray excitation. In the cathodemagflesillm el'thegelmahate at 1100 Likewise, the ray measurements of the quaternary phosphors the cursolid solution limit of magnesium orthosilicate in zinc rent d i of h l t b was ()5 microamperes o thosilicate 5 bo 8% at 1200 C. Beyond 38% of per square centimeter, and the anode potential was 16.0

the magnesium compound, the willemite Phase is diluted kilovolts. The results are presented in Tables I and II for with the Olivine Phase which is decidedly inferior in light I silicon and magnesium variations in zinc orthogermanate Production Thhs, applicants have discovered unexpectedphosphors containing 2 mole percent manganese. In these y desirable Properties in the binary and quaternary solid tables and in subsequent Tables III, IV and V, two values solution compositions of these materials with Properties are given for each composition. First is the brightness of which are decidedly superior to those of the individual end h sample given i Tables I and 11 as a percent f an memherst ZnZGeofiMn, MgzGeotizMns ZnzsiosiMn, and arbitrary standard, and the second value is the peak wave- Mgzslo'iiMn' length given in angstrom units and enclosed in parentheses.

was found that MgZGeO4 m Sohd solutlon m The peak wavelengths were determined from spectrora- Zn GeO diometer curves at 75% of peak intensity.

TABLE I.2537 A. EXCITATION [Luminescence oi (Zno.oss-yM y)z(Ge -,Sl,)0 :M11o.ot as a function gt Mg (1 and Si (2) concentrationsbrightness and peak avelengt Values of 1 l t lo z: 70 8'7 (5 290 A 58 5'7 (5 270 A 01 751IIIIII..-'.. "iiiji'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII "subtaaab TABLE II.-OATHODE-RAY EXCITATION [Luminescence oi (Z110 9g5 Mg )z(Ge1-;Si|)OHM-no.0:8S a function 01 Mg (0) and Si (2) concentrations-brightness and peak wavelength] Values of y Values of z.

1.00 45.1it.l. (5,310 A.)

............ ao.7 (5,290 A.) 51.5(5,aa0n.) 41. ,320)

57.2(5,340A.) 48.2(5,350) (5,350A.) 26.2(5,420) 58. 0(5, 380 A.) 5s.2 5,as0) 57.8(5,370)

stabilizes the phosphor and aids in reducing burning by From Table I it will be seen that substituting Mg in cathode rays. Zn GeO increases brightness under 2537 A. excitation,

Zn SiO when activated with divalent manganese, Mn, 0 while it has the opposite efiect in Zn SiO In each case, yields a bright green phosphor. Related binary and quaterthe peak emission shifts slightly toward the blue end of nary phosphors have now been found to be superior. the spectrum. The substitution of Ge+ for Si results in The examples tested by applicants will be presented in increased brightness and a shift in peak emission toward tables below. Phosphors represented in the tables were the red so that compositions high in germanium are quite made using the following raw materials. Phosphor grade yellow. When Ge and Mg+ are simultaneously submaterials were u ed except where chemi lly p re (C-P-) stituted into Zn SiO the germanium substitution is the grade is indicated. dominant factor in determining the characteristics of the (a) silicic acid, SiO2 XH2O luminescent radiation. The brightest phosphors in this quaternary system including Zn+ Mg, Ge and Si (b) Basic magnesium carbonate,

occur near the solid solution limit of Mg GeO 1n Zn GeO C.P. s Table 11 illustrates that the trends established with (c) Zinc oxide, ZnO 2537 A. excitation are largely repeated in the case of (d) Germanium dioxide, GeO cathode-ray excitation, the main difference being that for (e) Manganous carbonate, MnCO cathode-ray excitation a minimum in brightness occurs at about 25 mole percent Ge+ substitution for Si. Thus, the desirable upper limit of Si+ substitution for Ge+ in phosphors of the present invention is 75 mole percent.

In the phosphors containing Si, variations in the manganese concentration of about from 0.5 to 2.0 mole 5 percent indicate that brightness is increasing as manganese increases to 2.0 mole percent and more. Under cathoderay excitation there was a minimum brightness at 1.0 mole percent manganese which was not present under 2537 A. excitation.

Binary phosphors based on solid solutions of zinc orthogermanate and magnesium orthogermanate activated with manganese were prepared, without the Si+ of the previous examples. These phosphors were prepared as described above except that the final firing temperature was 1150il C. instead of 1200 C. Luminescence data for these compositions under 25 37 A. and 3650 A. excitation and cathode-ray excitation are given respectively in Tables III, IV and V below as a function of atomic proportions of magnesium and manganese. In each case, the first entry is the brightness, and the second entry is the peak wavelength in angstrom units and is in parentheses. In Tables III and IV the brightness is given in percent of a standard Zn GeO :Mn phosphor, while in Table V the brightness is in foot-lamberts. The cathodoluminescent data on the binary phosphors was obtained with an anode potential of 16 kilovolts and a current density of 0.2 microampere per square centimeter.

brightness to a maximum at about 15 mole percent Mg GeO at the 0.01 Mn level, with different results for other Mn levels. Most of the willemite solid solutions discussed here are about 4050% brighter under 2537 A. excitation than standard Zn SiO :Mn certified by the National Bureau of Standards which has a brightness of 77% relative to the above-mentioned Zn GeO :Mn standard.

Table IV shows that with 3650A. excitation brightness generally tends to increase with Mn additions up to the 0.02 mole level.

FIG. 2 illustrates the improvements in brightness obtained in phosphors of the invention using data from Table VI with 2537 A. and 3650 A. excitation.

The compositions shown in Table VI were tested under 2537 A., 3650 A. and cathode-ray excitation, and the results are presented both in Table VI and in FIGS. 2 and 3. These data demonstrate that there is a decrease in brightness after a certain Mn+ concentration has been reached; this seems to be due to activator quenching. Peak emission shifts toward the red as manganese concentration increases under both 2537 A. and 3650 A. excitation.

As shown in Table VI, cathodoluminescent brightness constantly decreases, and the peak wavelength is constantly shifted toward the red as manganese is added within the limits of 0.01-0.10 to a phosphor having the basic composition (ZI10.795 Mg0.2g)zGfio4lMng TABLE III.2,537 A. EXCITATION [Luminescence of (Zr1 Mg,,)zGeO :1\Iu x as a function of Mg (y) and Mnh) concentrations-brightness and peak wavelength] Values of y Values of z:

0.0 94. 5% (5, 420 A.) 94. 5% (5, 440 A.) 92. 5%(5, 415 A.) 91% (5, 420 A.) 101% (5, 410 A.) 97. 5% (5, 305 A.)

TABLE IV.3,650 A. EXCITATION [Luminescence of (Zn Mg hGeOnMnh as a function of Mg (y) and Mn (1:) coneentratlons-brightness and peak wavelength] Values of y 164%(5, 430 A.) 116% (5, 440 A.) 81%(5, 420 A.) %(5, 430 A.) 60% (5, 425 A.) 28%(5, 425 A TABLE V.CATHODE-RAY EXOITATION [Luminescence of Zn0.w5-,-,,Mg )zGeOhMnzX as a function of Mg (y) and Mn (1) concentrations-brightness and peak wavelength] Values of 11 Values of 2::

0.04 8.7t.1.(5,450A.) 14.9 it. 1. (5,415 A.) 13.8ft.l.(5,415A.) 129it.1.(5,420A.) 15.3ft. 1. (5,400.4) 14.3 ft. 1. 5,400.4) 19. 0(5, 380) 17. 9(5, 390 18. 1(5, 390) 10. 1(5, 430) 10. 4(5, 405) 21. 0 5, 370 12. 2 5, 380) 21. 9 5, 37 19. 7(5, 380) 20. 0(5, 370) 19. 9 5, 305 19. 8(5, 360) 15. 5 (5, 375) 20. 2(5, 355) 25. 3 5, 370) 23. 8(5, 355) 22. 0(5, 360) 21. s 5, 340

1 Burned severely. 2 Burned slightly.

TABLE VI FIG 1 illustrates the sharp increase in brightness from [Luminescence 5 9 9 5 as afwwtion of manganese coucen ra 101'1 substltutmg at least 10 atom percent Mg for Zn m I Zn GeQ zMn This data is taken from Tables III 65 Emtamn and V. 3,050 A. 2,537 A Cathode ray As shown in Tables III and V, the composition having optimum brightness under 2537 A. and cathode-ray ex- 48% 425 110% g5 ,5 %0fi 20 8tt.li7(58, 2 20 c tat on 1s (Zn Mg )GeO .Mn 71th 2537 A. ex- 88 (5,420) 109 (5,415) 151 (5, 415) citation, the peak emlsslon of the sample 1s at 5380 A. and 58 5,450) 05 5,450) 10.0 5,450) 34 5, 470) 31 (5,470 4.3 5,490)

the brightness is 129% relative to a sample of Zn GeOpMn used as a standard. In response to cathode-ray excitation, the peak wavelength of the sample is 5370 A. with a brightness of 23.3 foot-lamberts. Additions of magnesium orthogermanate cause increases in 75 The optimum phosphor under excitation by cathode rays and by 2537 A. ultraviolet light is 7 Under 2537 A. excitation, this phosphor has a peak wavelength of 5380 A. and a brightness of 129% of a standard Zn GeO :Mn. Under cathode rays it has a peak wavelength of 5370 A. and a brightness of 25.3 foot-lamberts. What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Luminescent material consisting essentially of a composition having the formula wherein:

a is in the range of about 0.951.0,

x is in activator proportions,

y is in the range of about 0.10-0.38, and

z is in the range of about 0-075.

2. Luminescent material according to claim 1 in which x is in the range of about 0.005-0.04.

3. Luminescent material according to claim 2 consisting essentially of a composition having the formula a-x-y y) 2 4 I Zx ing essentially of a composition having the formula References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,457,054 12/1948 Leverenz. 8/1948 Williams.

TOBLAS E. LEVOW, Primary Examiner R. D. EDMONDS, Assistant Examiner 

